Centennial mum creations
Colorful tribute to state takes shape in OU flower beds
Colorful tribute to state takes shape in OU flower beds

NORMAN — Allen King creates floral art shows at the University of Oklahoma. This year, his centennial-theme mum designs are a tribute to the state's history.

King, director of landscape at OU, used mums and Joseph's coat flowers to design an oil derrick, buffalo, bird and other state symbols to celebrate Oklahoma's birthday.

The colorful flower beds are popular with visitors to OU, where they are often photographed and admired. Students, faculty, alumni, football fans and visitors to the campus have come to anticipate the beautiful flower beds. The Oklahoma Centennial theme is especially well-received.

"This is a big show,” King said on a recent sunny morning when the temperature hovered near freezing early in the day. King and his crew were out before the sun came up to water the flower beds to fend off any possible frost damage to the elaborate display.

The weather cooperated, and the mum designs retained their beauty.

King wanted the mums to look their best for a visit by Molly Boren and several media outlets on campus to photograph the flower beds. He said frost forms at 37 degrees in the low-lying area. The Joseph's coat would turn black, and the centennial show would lose its impact.

The flower bed with the centennial year 1907 was created using Joseph's coat. Joseph's coat has many uses in the landscape and is a favorite plant for edging to define plant beds. The plant is prized for its eye-catching yellow-green foliage, compact growth habit, durability and nonstop color from early spring until fall frost.

Joseph's coat is an heirloom plant that was popular in the Victorian era when formal gardens were in vogue.

Like any home gardener or landscape designer, King keeps track of weather changes and is happy every time he dodges a weather disaster.

He said slow, rainy weather fades mums, and that was a concern. King said he also needs the mums to grow together to attain the same height to make their patterns.

"This is a strange season,” King said. "Our planting season was delayed 30 to 45 days due to rain, and I wondered how big the mums would get. Homecoming came too early for the mums.”

King drew the floral patterns for the Oklahoma Centennial theme freehand, as he always does. He said he began creating the mum beds on the campus 13 years ago and has been at OU nearly 20 years.

He said he was inspired to celebrate Oklahoma's birthday with a mum tribute three years ago during a meeting with Lee Allan Smith. Smith is the Oklahoma Centennial Commission's chairman of projects and events.

"He has so much love for the state, it inspired me to work on the designs,” King said.

He said the average first frost in Oklahoma is Nov. 15. Gardeners who find an end-of-the year mum sale may wonder what to do.

"Take them home and plant them,” King said. "You will be surprised. Mums are funny flowers. They like it cool and dark. These unique little plants need 11 to 12 hours of darkness.”

Earlier in the season it's a good idea to keep the porch light off, he said.

King encouraged home gardeners who want to create floral patterns on a smaller scale in their yard to try a simple design.

He suggested using one or two matching colors. Place five bronze mums in a line, then place four yellows behind them. Stagger the plants so the yellows can be seen between the bronze.

"What I like the best, and what I do at my home, is pick out a favorite mum, place three of them together and try to symmetrically place them throughout the garden to balance out the color,” King said.

He said his favorite mum, "Melissa,” is a pretty lavender color that fades to pink and has good color retention. The lavender brightens the garden and works well with evergreen plants. He also likes the crimson red mum "Helen.”

King said he uses cottonseed hulls for mulch because it is organic and retains moisture.

King said the plants will be left lying on the ground until the Monday after Thanksgiving.

"People are welcome to come and get these plants,” King said, "They should last two to five seasons, and I would like to see people get a few years of joy out of them.”

There is no rest for a landscaper, even as the chill winds of November begin to blow. King said he and his crew will be planting trees and cleaning up leaves. Also, he is working on designs for the mum beds in 2008.

"I have really enjoyed these centennial-theme flower beds and the visits with the public,” King said. "I will have to think of something spectacular for next year.”

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